Reflection paper on resistance in ectoparasites

Transcription

1 September 2018 EMA/CVMP/EWP/310225/2014 Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP) 4 5 Draft Draft agreed by Efficacy Working Party (EWP-V) May 2018 Adopted by CVMP for release for consultation September 2018 Start of public consultation 21 September 2018 End of consultation (deadline for comments) 31 August Comments should be provided using this template. The completed comments form should be sent to vet-guidelines@ema.europa.eu Keywords Ectoparasites, resistance to ectoparasiticides 30 Churchill Place Canary Wharf London E14 5EU United Kingdom Telephone +44 (0) Facsimile +44 (0) Send a question via our website An agency of the European Union European Medicines Agency, Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

2 Table of contents 1. Introduction Definition of resistance Current state of ectoparasite resistance Ticks Mites Lice Fleas Flies Mosquitoes and sand flies (Nematocera) Sea lice (Copepods) Mechanisms of resistance Pyrethroids Organophosphates Neonicotinoids Macrocyclic lactones IGRs Carbamates Amitraz Methods of detecting resistance Exposing adults or larvae to treated surfaces Resistance monitoring programmes Management strategies to delay the development of resistance Monitoring Use of ectoparasiticides Reduction of number of treatments Method of administration of a VMP Rotation of different classes of ectoparasitics Multi-active products Synergists Environmental control measures Alternative management strategies Natural enemies Vaccination Discussion Resistance mechanisms Detection of resistance Monitoring of resistance Strategies to delay resistance development EMA/CVMP/EWP/310225/2014 Page 2/30

3 Assessment of product applications for ectoparasiticides Conclusion Recommendations CVMP recommendations Responsibility of Member States Research and education Definitions References EMA/CVMP/EWP/310225/2014 Page 3/30

4 Introduction A wide variety of ectoparasite species of importance to animal health is found in Europe. Ectoparasite infestation is seen in both food-producing and companion animals. It may be associated with a significant decline in animal health and may result in production losses within farming systems. Infested animals may act as a source of infection to both animals and, in the case of ectoparasites of zoonotic importance, humans. Furthermore, some ectoparasite species act as important vectors of bacterial, viral, helminth or protozoan pathogens, some of which pose a serious threat to animal and public health. The scope of this reflection paper is to give an overview of the currently known resistance situation in ectoparasites to active substances used in both veterinary medicinal products (and also biocides) with a special focus on Europe, and to provide a review of the current knowledge on resistance mechanisms. This information might be useful for guidance on prudent use or for future applications. 2. Definition of resistance Resistance to ectoparasiticides is the selection of a specific heritable trait (or traits) in an ectoparasite population as a result of exposure of that population to an active substance, resulting in a significant increase in the percentage of the population that will fail to respond to a standard dose of that chemical when used as recommended (slightly modified from Coles and Dryden, 2014 ; WHO, 2010). Resistance to one ectoparasiticide may also confer resistance to another ectoparasiticide through sideor cross-resistance. Side-resistance is decreased susceptibility to more than one ectoparasiticide within the same chemical class, e.g. resistance to two synthetic pyrethroids. Cross-resistance is decreased susceptibility to more than one ectoparasiticide within different chemical classes with a similar mode of action (Abbas et al., 2014). The WHO (2016) has defined thresholds when testing resistance in malaria vector mosquitoes: i.e. a mortality >98% is considered susceptible, <90% is considered resistant and between 97 90% mortality requires additional testing. For other ectoparasites, the mortality rate of the strain under investigation is usually compared with the mortality rate of a known susceptible strain (sometimes available from the WHO) under laboratory conditions using various concentrations of an ectoparasiticide (see methods) normally expressed either as resistance factor (RF) or resistance ratio (RR). 3. Current state of ectoparasite resistance Reports of resistance or susceptibility status in a number of ectoparasite species of veterinary importance have been published worldwide. However, literature on ectoparasite resistance in Europe is currently not very comprehensive Ticks Global: Most reports on resistance in ticks refer to Rhipicephalus (formerly Boophilus) microplus, also known as the southern or Australian cattle tick, which is a one-host tick preferring cattle and buffalo. All stages spend their life cycle on one animal species only, which makes them more sensitive to selection of resistance after treatment compared to multi-host ticks. At present, the tick is endemic in subtropical and tropical regions wordwide, but not in continental Europe. It is meanwhile eradicated in the USA. An overview on the global resistance situation of this tick is given by FAO (2004) and Abbas et al. (2014). Resistance of the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (R.) microplus, against avermectins has been EMA/CVMP/EWP/310225/2014 Page 4/30

5 reported from Brazil (Martins and Furlong, 2001, Klafke et al., 2006) and from Mexico (Perez-Cogollo et al., 2010). The first documentation of ivermectin resistance in 10 brown dog tick populations (R. sanguineus) has been described in Mexico by Rodriguez-Vivas et al. (2017). Europe: There are currently no reports on tick resistance in cattle. In dogs, an in vitro study in Spain reported a high resistance rate in R. sanguineus ticks to deltamethrin and variable sensitivity to propoxur. However, all tested R. sanguineus strains still appeared to be sensitive to amitraz (Estrada- Pena, 2005). Currently, there is no documented evidence of resistance in Ixodes ricinus or Dermacentor reticulatus to ectoparasiticides Mites Dermanyssus gallinae Europe: First evidence of tolerance of the red poultry mite Dermanyssus (D.) gallinae to synthetic pyrethroids and carbamates was reported from Italy in the 80s of the last century (Genchi et al., 1984). A survey in the former Czechoslovakia indicated resistance of D. gallinae to the synthetic pyrethroids permethrin and tetramethrin as well as to the organophosphate trichlorfon at few farms. Resistance to the banned DDT was, however, widespread (Zeman, 1987). Resistance to synthetic pyrethroids in D. gallinae has also been reported from France (Beugnet et al., 1997), Sweden (Nordenfors et al., 2001) and Italy (Marangi et al., 2009). In UK, comparisons with laboratory-reared susceptible mites suggested the presence of resistance to malathion, bendiocarb, cypermethrin and permethrin in field isolated mites (Fiddes et al., 2005). A first comprehensive testing of D. gallinae from 10 big laying hen companies in Germany in 1999 to 2000 ascertained partial or nearly complete resistance to organophosphates, synthetic pyrethroids and carbamates. The synthetic pyrethroid group revealed the highest degrees of resistance (Liebisch and Liebisch, 2003). Varroa destructor Europe: Resistance of the Varroa (V.) destructor mite to synthetic pyrethroids, i.e. flumethrin and taufluvalinate, has been reported since the early 1990s in the Lombardy region in Italy, spreading quickly to Switzerland, Slovenia, France, Belgium, and Austria (Faucon et al.1995, Lodesani et al, 1995, Troullier, 1998). From there, it continued its spread throughout Europe following the established colony trade routes in France, reaching Germany in 1997 and Finland in 1998 via possible bee movement from Italy (Martin, 2004). In 2001, the resistance surveillance programme of the UK s National Bee Unit confirmed the first cases of pyrethroid resistance in the UK (Thompson et al., 2002, 2003, Martin, 2004, Lea, 2015). Pyrethroid resistance is now considered widespread in UK (Lea, 2015). More recently, resistance to the synthetic pyrethroids acrinathrin and tau-fluvalinate as well as to the formamidine amitraz was detected in V. destructor mites from hives in the Czech Republic, using in vitro test methods (Kamler et al., 2016). In 2001, the first laboratory and field detection of V. destructor resistance to the organophosphate coumaphos was reported in Italy (Spreafico et al., 2001). Psoroptes ovis Europe: Resistance in sheep scab to the organophosphate propetamphos and the synthetic pyrethroid flumethrin has been reported in the UK (Synge et al., 1995; Clark et al., 1996; Coles, 1998; Bates, 1998). Populations of Psoroptes spp. that were resistant to flumethrin already showed side-resistance to high cis cypermethrin (HCC) (Bates, 1998). In addition, there is evidence of moxidectin resistance in Psoroptes mites in the UK (Doherty et al., 2018). Sarcoptes scabiei EMA/CVMP/EWP/310225/2014 Page 5/30

6 Global: Case reports on two dogs treated with 300 µg kg bw ivermectin suggested that S. scabiei in these dogs was clinically refractory to the treatment (Terada et al., 2010) Lice Biting/chewing lice: Global: Most scientific reports on the development of resistance in the biting louse Bovicola (B.) ovis in the last decades stem from Australia and New Zealand. Reduced efficacy was first reported after only a few years following the introduction of synthetic pyrethroid formulations in 1981 in Australia (Boray et al., 1988). Resistance factors (RF) of 26 x to the synthetic pyrethroid cypermethrin were calculated being sufficient to prevent adequate efficacy (Levot et al., 1995). At nearly the same time in New Zealand low to moderate cypermethrin-rf ranging up to 12 x in the B. ovis field populations were identified (Wilson et al., 1997). In 1991, a population of B. ovis in New South Wales of Australia was found to have a high RF of 642 to cypermethrin, with side-resistance conferred to other synthetic pyrethroids (Levot et al., 1995). It has also been observed that an Australian strain of B. ovis that had originally been highly resistant to pyrethroids appeared susceptible after having been left untreated for several years. When challenged by cypermethrin backline treatment (pour-on); however, high level resistance was again selected rapidly (Levot, 2012). Resistance against the more recently introduced insect growth regulators (IGR), the benzoyl urea derivatives triflumuron and diflubenzuron, was confirmed in lice populations using both a moulting inhibition test (James et al., 2008) and a louse egg hatch test (Levot and Sales, 2008). Europe: In northern England, resistance to y-benzene hexachloride (y-bhc), aldrin and dieldrin, used in plunge dips, developed in populations of sheep lice in the mid 1960s (Barr and Hamilton, 1965; Page et al., 1965). In Scotland, a sheep flock was suspected of being infested with a synthetic pyrethroid resistant population of B. ovis. A bioassay demonstrated a deltamethrin RF of 14.1, which is greater than a resistant reference strain (Devon isolate) that showed a RF of Laboratory data and reliable field data, thus, indicated possible resistance to deltamethrin (Bates, 2001). Recently, a population of Bovicola ocellatus, collected from donkeys in UK, displayed a high level of pyrethroid tolerance which is likely to reflect development of resistance (Ellse et al., 2012). Based on data from a survey of OIE member countries and FAO questionnaires in Europe lice insecticide resistance has been mapped for UK and France (FAO, 2004). Sucking lice: Europe: Information on insecticide resistance in the sucking louse Haematopinus suis is rare. In Germany, a population resistant to the organophosphate insecticide dichlorvos was described by Müller and Bülow in Fleas Ctenocephalides (Ct.) felis and Ct. canis Global: Against the banned synthetic organochlorine methoxychlor, only a single case of cat flea resistance was reported from Europe (Denmark) in Other cases were reported from outside Europe with a total of 28 and 12 documented cases for Ct. felis and Ct. canis, respectively (Mota- Sanchez and Wise, 2017). There are also reports of Ct. felis resistances to carbamates, organochlorine, organophosphates, pyrethrins and pyrethroids. Resistance ratios (RR 50 ), were typically less than 20 and some crossresistance between carbaryl and organophosphate insecticides were observed (Coles and Dryden, EMA/CVMP/EWP/310225/2014 Page 6/30

7 ). A strain with resistance to the phenylpyrazole insecticide fipronil was found susceptible to the neonicotinoid nitenpyram owing to the different modes of action of both compounds (Schenker et al., 2001). The susceptibility of 12 field isolates from cats and dogs and four laboratory reference strains of the cat flea Ct. felis collected throughout Australia, the United States and Europe was determined following the topical application of insecticides to adult fleas. In the field isolates, the LD 50 values in fleas following fipronil and imidacloprid administration (i.e to 0.35 ng/flea and 0.02 to 0.18 ng/flea, respectively) were consistent with published baseline figures. Results for the synthetic pyrethroids permethrin and deltamethrin, however, suggested a level of resistance in all isolates, whilst for tetrachlorvinphos only one field-collected isolate from Australia showed a 21-fold resistance at LD 50 compared to the reference strains (Rust et. al., 2015). Large-scale monitoring of the imidacloprid resistance status in Ct. felis has been carried out in Australia, Germany, France, the UK and the USA. Between 2002 and 2012, 770 isolates from dogs and 1516 isolates obtained from cats were collected. Results confirmed sustained susceptibility of Ct. felis to imidacloprid, despite its extensive use for almost 20 years (Rust et al., 2011; Kopp et al., 2013) Flies Insecticide resistance in the house fly Musca (M.) domestica is widespread with reports about resistance from a huge number of countries around the world. The following overview is limited to Europe. Europe: M. domestica strains resistant to organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids have been identified on German farms (Pospischil et al., 1996). In a more recent study, 58 out of 60 M. domestica field populations from dairy farms in Germany showed varying degree of resistance towards the pyrethroid deltamethrin using the Fly Box test method (Jandowsky et al., 2010). Pyrethroid resistance could be confirmed in the laboratory by topical application of the discriminating dose of 2.5 ng cyhalothrin/fly to 15 isolates selected from these field populations. In Denmark pyrethroid resistance in M. domestica has also been observed. Four out of 21 field populations showed more than 100-fold resistance at the LD 95 of bioresmethrin synergised by piperonyl butoxide. These farms had a history of heavy pyrethroid use. In addition, resistance to the organophosphate azamethiphos was found to be widespread (Kristensen et al., 2001). Furthermore, neonicotinoid-resistant houseflies are present at a detectable level in Danish field populations from livestock farms. The field populations were 6 76-fold resistant to the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam. The cross-resistance seen between the neonicotinoids thiamethoxam and imidacloprid let the authors conclude that their use as replacements for each other should be avoided (Kristensen and Jespersen, 2008). In the UK, low-level resistance of fly eggs (RF 2.9) and larvae L1 (RF 2.4) to the insect growth regulator (IGR) cyromazine was reported in a field strain of house flies from a pig farm (Bell et al., 2010). In Denmark, resistance toward the benzoylurea IGR diflubenzuron was observed. Two out of 21 populations had larvae surviving 6.1 times the LC 95 of diflubenzuron. They also found field populations with some resistance to the IGR cyromazine. Eight out of the 21 field populations had larvae surviving 2.2 times the LC 95 of a susceptible strain, and one population had larvae surviving 4.4 times the LC 95 (Kristensen and Jespersen, 2003). In another study, the susceptibility of 31 Danish field populations of M. domestica from live stock farms to spinosad, a compound of the spinosyn class, varied from RF (LC 50 ) 2.2 to 7.5-fold compared to the susceptible WHO reference strain in a feeding assay at 72 h. Based on the steep slope determined and EMA/CVMP/EWP/310225/2014 Page 7/30

8 the limited variation of spinosad activity against the field populations, it was considered that overall these field populations are still susceptible at the proposed discriminating dose of 12 µg spinosad/g sugar (Kristensen and Jespersen, 2004). In Turkey, field strains of M. domestica collected between from cow farms in the Antalya and Izmir area, revealed year to year variable resistance levels against synthetic pyrethroids. Very high resistance levels against cypermethrin were reported for the Antalya strain (Akiner and Çağlar, 2012). In France, a Stomoxys (S.) calcitrans strain, collected from cattle commonly treated with synthetic pyrethroid, showed an LD 90 for blood-engorged flies that was 7.1 and 22.6 times over the recommended dose of both deltamethrin and fenvalerate, respectively (Salem et al., 2012). In Germany, 95 % of S. calcitrans populations tested on 40 dairy farms were suspected to be resistant against deltamethrin when using the FlyBox test method. The on-farm observations were confirmed in the laboratory, demonstrating that 24 hrs after topical application of the LD 95 of deltamethrin (2.3 ng/fly) the mortality rate was below 80 %. At the LD 95 of azamethiphos (4.9 ng/fly) all stable fly colonies also turned out to be resistant (Reissert et al., 2017) Mosquitoes and sand flies (Nematocera) Studies regarding the examination of resistance or susceptibility of products with insecticidal efficacy focus on vector control programs. There are numerous reports from different areas of the world, that describe the occurrence of resistance in mosquitos and sandflies against commonly used chemical classes (Alexander and Maroli, 2003; Dhiman and Yadav, 2016; Fawaz et al., 2016; Salim-Abadi et al., 2016). It can be assumed that such data also has relevance for the efficacy of veterinary medicinal products if these contain insecticidal substances of the same class as used for vector control programs or in agriculture. However, there is only limited information on the resistance situation in Europe (incl. the Mediterranean region). Culex spp. Following a bioassay examination of the resistance status of 13 Culex (C.) pipiens populations from 5 regions in Greece (Attika, Phthiotis, Thessaloniki, Serres, Evros) (according to the standard methodology of WHO) over a three year period, susceptibility to deltamethrin could be demonstrated in 12 populations; one population in the Attika region was found to be resistant (Kioulos et al., 2013). In another study conducted in Greece using the CDC bottle bioassay according to the guideline for evaluating insecticide resistance in vectors (CDC, 2012), resistance of C. pipiens to deltamethrin was shown for the Evros and the Thessaloniki region (Fotakis et al., 2017). Aedes albopictus In Aedes (Ae.) albopictus the level of resistance is assumed to be relatively low as reviewed by Vontas et al. (2012). Concerning pyrethroids, the data indicated that deltamethrin and permethrin seemed to be effective against Ae. albopictus adults as all populations that had been tested from a wide geographical area over a range of years remained susceptible. The data collection included bioassay results from Ae. albopictus populations from Greece and Italy of the year 2009, which showed clear susceptibility to deltamethrin (Vontas et al., 2012). Phlebotomus spp. In the eastern Mediterranean region, resistance against deltamethrin and permethrin was detected in the west of Turkey where both insecticides have been applied for a long time. However, no resistance was found in a neighbouring province without insecticide use. Susceptibility tests and determination of the resistance status were performed according to current WHO standards (Karakus et al., 2017). EMA/CVMP/EWP/310225/2014 Page 8/30

9 Likewise, two Italian sandfly populations (Phlebotomus (P.) perniciosus and P. papatasi) were found to be susceptible to 3 different insecticides including permethrin compared to a known susceptible laboratory reference strain, based on bioassay tests according to the WHO standard protocols (Maroli et al., 2002) Sea lice (Copepods) Europe: Reduced sensitivity of Lepeophtheirus salmonis (the salmon louse) to organophosphates, pyrethroids and emamectin benzoate has been documented (Ljungfeld et al., 2014, Sevatdal et al., 2005, Espedal et al., 2013). Surveillance in Norway also revealed reduced sensitivity of L. salmonis to azamethiphos and deltamethrin (Grontvedt et al., 2014). 4. Mechanisms of resistance Resistance can occur within the same chemical class due to a common mode of action (Stafford and Coles, 2009; IRAC). Different classes of ectoparasiticides might have a mutual target site, e.g. sodium channel gate for DDT and pyrethroids (Vijverberg et al., 1982). Two major resistance mechanisms have been identified: 1. Detoxification enzyme-based resistance occurs when enhanced activity levels of e.g. esterases, oxidases, or glutathione S-transferases (GST) prevent the ectoparasiticide from reaching their target site. This could be caused by a change in a single amino acid altering the catalytic centre activity of the enzyme, or by amplification of multiple gene copies in resistant ectoparasites. 2. Point mutations prevent the ectoparasiticide from acting at the target site. Jonsson and Hope (2007) concluded that the development of resistance will occur faster if resistance is dependent on only a single gene mutation, especially if this single gene mutation forms a dominant allele. If multiple genes play a role in causing resistance, the spread of resistance will be slower within the population 4.1. Pyrethroids Resistance mechanisms to pyrethroids in many ectoparasites are extensively described in the literature and are generally based on point mutations at the target site. As an example, a specific sodium channel gene mutation has been shown to be associated with resistance to permethrin in R. microplus (Foil et al., 2004). Also, point mutations in a sodium channel gene confer tau-fluvalinate (pyrethroid) resistance in Varroa destructor (Hubert et al., 2014, Gonzales-Cabrera et al., 2013). A molecular study identified sodium channel gene mutations that could lead to knock down resistance (kdr) phenotypes to pyrethroids in several insect species, including the housefly (Martinez-Torres et al., 1997). Resistance to both pyrethroids and DDT has been observed in Aedes aegypti, and was suggested to be caused by the (kdr)-type resistance mechanism (Brengues et al., 2003). An overview of the position of resistance-associated point mutations in the sodium channel genes is given by Rinkevich et al. (2013). Detoxification enzyme based resistance to pyrethroids is also known. A specific metabolic esterase with permethrin-hydrolyzing activity, CzEst9, has been purified and its gene coding region cloned. This esterase has been associated with high resistance to permethrin in R. microplus (Foil et al., 2004). EMA/CVMP/EWP/310225/2014 Page 9/30

10 Organophosphates Pruett (2002) showed that an insensitive acetylcholinesterase, i.e. target site, was involved in organophosphate resistance in two strains of R. microplus. It is suggested that point mutations within the AChE gene may be the molecular basis for target site insensitivity as shown by studies with Drosophila melanogaster (Mutero et al., 1994). In salmon lice across the North Atlantic a Phe362Tyr mutation was found to be strongly linked to lice survival following chemical treatment with azamethiphos, demonstrating that this mutation represents the primary mechanism for organophosphate resistance. It was observed that the Phe362Tyr mutation is not a de novo mutation but probably existed in salmon lice before the introduction of organophosphates in commercial aquaculture (Kaur et al., 2017) Neonicotinoids Kavi et al. (2014) investigated the mechanisms underlying imidacloprid resistance in house flies. Their results suggested that resistance is not due to detoxification changes by cytochrome P 450 s, in contrast to earlier findings (Markussen and Kristensen, 2010) but results from a different resistance mechanism that could be linked to autosomes 3 and 4 of the house fly Macrocyclic lactones There is evidence for the participation of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in ivermectin resistance in the cattle tick R. microplus. ABC transporters are known as efflux transporters, and found in all organisms reducing cellular concentrations of toxic compounds (Pohl et al., 2011). However, presently, the exact mechanism of resistance is still unknown (Abbas et al., 2014) IGRs Juvenile hormone analogues (JHA): Microsomal cytochrome P450 monooxygenases were found to play an important role in the pyriproxyfen resistance of houseflies. Cytochrome (Cyt) P450 and Cyt b5 were investigated in microsomal enzymes of houseflies (M. domestica) from the gut and fat body of 3rd instar larvae of both pyriproxyfen susceptible (WHO) and resistant (established in Japan) strains. Microsomes of the pyriproxyfen-resistant housefly strain had higher levels of total Cyt P450s in both the gut and fat body in comparison to the susceptible strain. In vitro metabolism studies of pyriproxyfen indicated that the metabolic rates were much higher in both the gut and fat body of resistant compared to susceptible larvae (Zhang et al. 1998). An Ae. albopictus population from Florida showed significant resistance against two juvenile hormone analogues methoprene and pyriproxyfen. The population presented over-expressed Cyt P450s, esterases (ESTs), and glutathione-s transferase (GSTs), suggesting that the global overexpression of the detoxification enzyme families may cause the reduced susceptibility towards IGRs (Marcombe et al., 2014). Reduced susceptibility of the JHA-carbamate fenoxycarb on diapausing and non diapausing 5th instar larvae of the codling moth Cydia pomonella in Greek orchards was correlated with elevated Cyt P450 monooxygenases activity, followed by elevated glutathione-s-transferase activity and reduced carboxylesterases activity (Voudouris et al., 2011). Although this effect was observed in the codling moth, the same mechanism could be expected in other insects of veterinary interest. EMA/CVMP/EWP/310225/2014 Page 10/30

11 Chitin Synthesis inhibitors: A study from Douris et al. (2016) provided compelling evidence that benzoyl urea insecticides (BPUs), etoxazole and buprofezin share the same molecular mode of action by direct interaction with chitin synthase 1 (CHS1). They detected a mutation (I1042M) in the CHS1 gene of a BPU-resistant Plutella xylostella (diamondback moth) at the same position as the I1017F mutation reported in spider mites that confers etoxazole resistance. Using a genome-editing CRISPR/Cas9 approach, homozygous lines of Drosophila melanogaster bearing either of these mutations were highly resistant to etoxazole and all tested BPUs (diflubenzuron, lufenuron, triflumuron). These findings have immediate effects on resistance management strategies of major agricultural pests but also on mosquito vectors of serious human diseases (e.g. Dengue, Zika), as diflubenzuron, the standard BPU, is one of the few effective larvicides in use Carbamates Carbamate insecticide resistance in Anopheles (An.) gambiae s.l. was mainly considered due to target site insensitivity arising from a single point mutation (Ace-1 R ) since the mean Ace-1 R mutation frequency had increased significantly after a two years campaign of indoor residual spraying using the carbamate insecticide bendiocarb in Benin [Aïkpon et al, 2014 a, b]. However, a low Ace-1 R mutation frequency in An. gambiae populations, associated with the resistance to carbamate and organophosphate detected in a further study (Aïkpon et al., 2014c), strongly supported the involvement of metabolic resistance based on the high activities of non-specific esterases, Glutathione- S-transferases and mixed function oxidases. Similar findings have been reported in Culex (C.) quinquefasciatus and An. gambiae, where greater oxidase and esterase activities were observed in resistant C. quinquefasciatus and An. gambiae, when Ace-1 R was absent (Corbel et al., 2007). The likely implication of metabolic mechanisms in bendiocarb resistance in An. gambiae populations from Cameroon was also stressed by Antonio Nkondjio et al. (2016). Sanil and Shetty (2010) studied the genetic basis of propoxur resistance in An. stephensi and showed that the resistance gene pr is autosomal, monofactorial, and incompletely dominant. According to the authors information on the inheritance mode of the resistant gene is considered relevant for a better understanding of the rate of resistance development Amitraz The target of amitraz activity has been proposed to be one of the biogenic amine receptors, most likely the adrenergic or octopaminergic receptors. In resistant tick strains two nucleotide substitutions in the octopamine receptor sequence have been detected resulting in amino acids that differ from all the susceptible strains (Chen et al., 2007; Corley et al., 2013). These mutations provided the first evidence for an altered target site as a mechanism of amitraz resistance in ticks. However, since the target site of amitraz has not been definitively identified the exact mechanism of resistance to amitraz is still not completely understood (Leeuwen et al., 2010; Guerrero et al., 2012 a; Pohl et al., 2012) Methods of detecting resistance In vivo trials are carried out directly on animals by means of administering the product according to the recommended dose-rate and application mode, and the number of arthropods pre- and posttreatment is subsequently compared. In vitro trials are numerous and vary according to the specific chemical and arthropod being investigated. Some approved test methods are given by FAO (2004), CDC (2012), WHO (2005, 2016) EMA/CVMP/EWP/310225/2014 Page 11/30

12 and IRAC (consulted 2017). Most but not all of the tests require laboratory conditions. Tests which can be performed under field conditions are e.g. the CDC bottle test (CDC, 2012) or the Fly Box mobile test kit (Jandowsky et al., 2010). Threshold values (e.g. discriminating doses) vary among different arthropod species and different ectoparasiticides with various modes of action. The validity of any of these methods is evaluated by using defined reference strains of arthropods (either susceptible or resistant) Exposing adults or larvae to treated surfaces Adults: This approach usually requires the direct contact between a surface treated with the chemical under investigation and the arthropods. It involves exposing arthropods to surfaces treated with different dilutions of the chemical under investigation for a predetermined period of time. At defined diagnostic time points the mortality of the arthropods is evaluated. Materials used for these surfaces may vary, e.g. paper, fabric or glas, but the principle remains the same (Thompson et al., 2002, Jandowsky et al., 2010; Rust et al., 2014; Sternberg et al., 2014). Larvae: A method for testing the susceptibility of tick larvae on treated surfaces is the larval packet test (LPT) promoted by the FAO (2004). It has been suggested that this assay when combined with the discriminating concentration concept may be used as an inexpensive and rapid resistance diagnostic technique (Eiden et al., 2015). A discriminating concentration is a single concentration of an insecticide that will kill a large portion of the susceptible genotype while the resistant genotypes remain alive. The LPT is not suitable for acarine growth regulators. These types of tests are not suitable for testing resistance of IGRs which act by disrupting the moulting process and/or inhibiting the hatching of eggs. For testing IGR resistance in temporary pests like flies, the fly eggs are usually incubated in rearing media with increasing concentrations of the IGR (Jandowsky et al., 2010). For ectoparasites that remain on the host permanently, specific test conditions might be required, e.g. the use of wool or skin scrapings of the host are considered essential for egg hatching in lice (Levot and Sales, 2008; James et al., 2008) Topical application to adults or larvae Adults: An often used method is the topical application at a chosen location on the body surface of the arthropod. Using different dilutions, small droplets of the chemical under investigation are applied by micro-syringe to the arthropods that are immobilised, for example by carbon dioxide or cooling. As before (see 5.1), at the end of the test, the mortality of the arthropods is evaluated (Pessoa et al., 2015). Another type of topical application is the immersion test. During this test the arthropods are submerged in different dilutions of the chemical under investigation (Castro-Janer et al., 2009). Larvae: For larvae an analogous test is the Larval Immersion Test (LIT) (Shaw, 1966). This test is not so widely used and has not been promoted by the FAO Feeding tests with treated rearing media The basic principle is that the tested chemical, at different concentrations, is added to the culture rearing media for the larval stages of the ectoparasite. The larvicidal efficacy can be tested with such bioassays (Kelly et al., 1987, Rust et al., 2014). A bioassay to determine resistance in sea lice has been described by Sevatdal et al. (2005). Pre-adult II sea lice are put in boxes and placed in seawater. The sea lice are then exposed to different doses of EMA/CVMP/EWP/310225/2014 Page 12/30

13 ectoparasiticides for 30 to 60 minutes. Twenty four hours after exposure survival rates of sea lice can be evaluated Biochemical and molecular assays These tests have the potential to investigate resistance mechanisms in an individual ectoparasite and thus confirm resistance. However, these tests are currently only used for research purposes. Several biochemical and immunological assays are described by the WHO (1998) to test elevation or alteration of ectoparasite enzymes involved in higher tolerance to ectoparasiticides. For example, the biochemical microtitre plate tests allow for the same ectoparasite to be used for all assays to test enzyme activity, e.g., for detecting altered acetylcholinesterase, elevated esterase, glutathione-s-transferase. The enzyme activities are quantified visually or with a spectrophotometer. It should be stressed that biochemical assays do not exist for all known resistance mechanisms and can, therefore, not completely substitute the standard susceptibility tests. 6. Resistance monitoring programmes There are currently no systematic monitoring programmes for resistance in ectoparasites in Europe, except monitoring programmes for resistance occurrence in salmon lice in Norway and a monitoring programme currently starting for stable flies (S. calcitrans and M. domestica) in Germany. Various projects monitor the environment and the health status of honey bee colonies including distribution of Varroa mite infestation at a national level in EU member states (e.g. Italy with BeeNet, i.e. an Italian beekeeping monitoring network, the German bee monitoring project, Spain etc). However, they do not specifically study levels of resistance and there is no EU-wide monitoring project that homogeneously collects data on Varroa resistance according to a standardized study protocol. In France, the field efficacy of products authorised against V. destructor in bees is monitored annually on a voluntary basis supervised by FNOSAD (Federation Nationale des Organisations Sanitaires Apicole Departementales) in order to detect any lack of expected efficacy. This is carried out using in vivo efficacy tests. The international honey bee research association COLOSS (prevention of honey bee COlony LOSSes) has a Varroa control task force; however, it does not primarily focus on resistance monitoring ( Pharmacovigilance system Lack of expected efficacy should be reported within the EU pharmacovigilance system. These reports could be supportive in providing evidence of potential development of resistance to a specific active substance. However, the system has its limitations as resistance is difficult to recognise in the field, and lack of expected efficacy is generally underreported. Thus, the true incidence of lack of efficacy is likely to be underestimated. Consequently, the current pharmacovigilance system is of limited value to detect and monitor resistance. 7. Management strategies to delay the development of resistance According to the WHO (2014) the occurrence of resistance is of focal nature and requires local decisions. From a general perspective, however, the following measures for reducing the development of resistance are addressed in the related literature: EMA/CVMP/EWP/310225/2014 Page 13/30

14 Monitoring Regular resistance monitoring before choosing an appropriate ectoparasiticide for application has been recommended in the public literature (FAO, 2004; Abbas et al., 2014; Karakus et al., 2017). Monitoring requires a recognized laboratory responsible for resistance testing, a defined standard methodology including a susceptible reference strain and, if necessary, also a known resistant strain (FAO, 2004) Use of ectoparasiticides Reduction of number of treatments There is general consensus that the reduction of the selection pressure for resistance in the field may delay the emergence of resistance (FAO, 2004; Thullner et al., 2007), and it has been recommended reducing the use of ectoparasiticides (e.g. timing the treatments according to epidemiology) or avoiding the treatment of uninfested animals (FAO, 2004; Heath and Levot, 2015). This was supported by a case control study performed in Australian dairy farms (Queensland), where regional differences were noted in the prevalence of acaricide resistance to the cattle tick R. (Boophilus) microplus. Certain regions and the frequency of acaricide application were consistently associated with resistance; it could e.g. be observed that the risk of resistance to synthetic pyrethroids and to amitraz increased when more than 5 applications of acaricide were made in the previous year (Jonsson et al., 2000) Method of administration of a VMP The method of administration has also been taken into account (Jonsson et al., 2000; FAO, 2004). For tick eradication programmes, topical application via plunge dips or spray races were considered superior with regard to efficacy compared to administration with an hand-held spray apparatus, since the latter method might provide insufficient distribution and/or wetting of the animals with the possibility of ticks being exposed to sublethal concentrations. This was supposed to be a possible factor that mediates the development of resistance (Jonsson et al., 2000; WHO, 2014) Rotation of different classes of ectoparasitics Furthermore, the use of rotation or alternation of different groups of insecticides/acaricides, which have no cross-resistance has been discussed (Kunz and Kemp, 1994; Cloyd, 2010; Abbas et al., 2014; WHO report, 2014). This approach assumes that within an ectoparasite population the frequency of resistant individuals to each chemical used before will decline during the application of the alternate substances (Kunz and Kemp, 1994). In this respect the means of maintaining refugia of susceptible ectoparasites to dilute resistance alleles has been considered (Kunz and Kemp, 1994; FAO, 2004; WHO report, 2014) although this appears to be difficult to apply in practice (Heath and Levot, 2015). The use of either strategy is considered controversial as it has not been adequately demonstrated that these strategies actually mitigate resistance (Cloyd, 2010). With regard to acaricides there is evidence from a study performed under laboratory conditions with defined R. microplus tick strains that rotation of pyrethroid acaricides (deltamethrin) with organophosphate acaricides (coumaphos) could delay the development of pyrethroid resistance. However, field trials are considered necessary to confirm such strategy (Thullner et al., 2007). EMA/CVMP/EWP/310225/2014 Page 14/30

15 Multi-active products A further strategy still under discussion to delay resistance is the use of products containing two or more ectoparasiticidal substances with different modes of action against the same parasite (multiactive products). This approach is based on the assumption that an individual parasite is unlikely to carry resistant alleles for two or more acaricides or insecticides with different modes of action (Kunz and Kemp, 1994; Abbas et al., 2014; WHO report, 2014). This strategy requires that the active substances in a multi-active product are compatible, of equal persistence (to prevent that sublethal concentrations of one component would select for resistant heterozygotes) and that they are used at recommended concentrations. However, the potential risk of the development of multiresistance cannot be fully excluded and further thorough clarification on this strategy appears necessary before firm conclusions on its usefulness can be drawn Synergists Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) PBO is widely used as a synergist to certain ectoparasiticides (e.g. pyrethroids, carbamates) for the control of arthropods. PBO has no intrinsic killing properties against arthropods and is practically nontoxic to birds and mammals (NPIC, 2017). PBO inhibits numerous enzymes in the arthropods that can break down the active substance before they can operate. Specifically, PBO inhibits the detoxification of ectoparasiticides by binding to the Cyt P450 dependent mixed function oxidases (MFOs), which are responsible for the degradation of active substances (Weber, 2005). Therefore, by adding PBO to a product, resistance based on increased activity of insect s MFOs might be overcome to some extent; thereby preserving the toxicity of carbamates and synthetic pyrethroids Environmental control measures To delay the development of resistance, additional measures which may reduce the infestation pressure and thereby the frequency of ectoparasiticide application have been addressed in the relevant literature: Pasture management (e.g. pasture alternation and/or rotation, in combination with ectoparasiticides) and/or housing management (e.g. good ventilation, thorough manure removal, optimum animal density, low stress) (Jonsson et al., 2000; Abbas et al., 2014). Treatment of the surroundings to reduce or eliminate reinfestations is also a common strategy to reduce the infestation pressure, e.g. as practiced in the case of fleas. Management measures may include mosquito traps, horsefly traps and fly traps (lights, sticky strips) (Heath and Levot, 2015). Moreover, quarantine of bought-in livestock may be considered as a strategy to prevent possible infestation and the need for treatment of the whole flock at a later time (FAO, 2004). This has been recommended for one host ticks, lice and mites e.g. Ampblyomma in Africa and South America, prevention of transmission of biting louse Bovicola (B.) ovis or chorioptes mites Sarcoptes (non flying obligatory ectoparasites) Alternative management strategies Alternative methods for controlling ectoparasiticide infestations are, for example, the use of natural enemies (e.g. predator mites) and vaccination: EMA/CVMP/EWP/310225/2014 Page 15/30

16 Natural enemies The black dump fly Hydrotaea aenescens (formerly Ophyra) has been used successfully for controlling house fly populations on swine and poultry farms in Europe and the United States (Betke et al., 1989, Ruszler, 1989; Turner and Carter, 1990; Jespersen, 1994; Hogsette and Jacobs, 1999). Leclercq et al. (2014) studied the efficacy of cleaner fish (wrasse, Labridae), which feed on the skin of other fish, as a biological control against sea lice. The authors concluded that farmed Ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) are highly effective controls against sea lice. In poultry production, the release of predator mites such as Androlaelaps casalis that consume the poultry red mite D. gallinae is used. However, although commercially available, the use of predator mites under field conditions needs further research (Sparagano et al., 2014) Vaccination For few arthropod species the development of vaccines is considered a possible alternative approach for the control of ectoparasites. For many years research efforts focused on the development of a vaccine against the single host tropical cattle tick R. microplus, which has considerable negative impact on livestock production (de la Fuente et al., 2007; Vargas et al., 2010; Guerrero et al., 2012 b; McNair, 2015, Schetters et al., 2016). Presently, only one vaccine containing the gut antigen Bm86 of R. microplus is commercially available (Guerrero et al., 2012 b). However, efficacy of this vaccine is said to be variable because of strain-to-strain variation, and acceptance is not widespread (Guerrero et al., 2012 b). Cattle tick vaccine research is ongoing in order to develop improved vaccines. Similar approaches for other veterinary infestations are also considered useful (e.g. sheep scab, sea lice) (McNair, 2015). However, the selection of suitable antigens as vaccine candidates is generally a major constraint (Smith et al., 2001; Smith and Pettit, 2004), and so far no vaccine against ectoparasites is available in the EU. 8. Discussion Worldwide expanding resistance against ectoparasitic substances contained in veterinary medicinal products and biocides is a major concern for animal welfare, for livestock production and partly also for human safety. Differences in the life cycle and prevalence of a parasite as well as in husbandry and environmental conditions, have resulted in region-specific reports about arthropod s resistance. For ectoparasite species with worldwide occurrence (e.g. fleas, mosquitoes, flies, mites) the resistance situation appears to have been more evenly investigated Resistance mechanisms The development of resistance to antiparasitics is known to be influenced by the host, the parasite, the frequency of use of antiparasiticidal products and the environment/husbandry system. Presently, in ectoparasites two major resistance mechanisms have been identified, which in general are i) point mutations and ii) enzyme-based detoxification mechanisms. For several ectoparasite species resistance mechanisms against some of the relevant substance classes have been determined. However, clinically relevant resistance has also been observed for which the underlying resistance mechanism is presently not exactly known, e.g. for amitraz or macrocyclic lactone compounds in ticks. The possibility that resistance against a substance or substance class is based on more than one mechanism needs to be considered. To summarize, more information in this area including the inheritance of resistance genes EMA/CVMP/EWP/310225/2014 Page 16/30